Ian Happ Discusses Lead-Off Role

Ian Happ is one of several Chicago Cubs players being considered for the lead-off spot in the order this season, and he made a strong case for the job with his performance Sunday.

Happ, who blasted 24 home runs during his rookie season, went deep off of San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner to lead-off the game and drove in a pair of runs on the day as the Cubs won a 12-10 slugfest in Scottsdale.

The competition for the lead-off job is intense this year after Dexter Fowler left the ball club following the 2016 season and after Jon Jay wasn’t brought back following the 2017 campaign. Happ will be competing primarily with outfielder Albert Almora Jr., who batted lead-off on Saturday against Texas.

Kyle Schwarber, who was used in the lead-off spot at times in 2017, went 2-for-3 for the Cubs in the game, and Mike Freeman scorched a two-RBI double in the contest as the team was able to out-slug San Francisco.

The Cubs will face another ace on Monday as Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners visit Sloan Park in Mesa. Tyler Chatwood will make his spring debut with his new team after signing a three-year deal with the club over the offseason.

Jon Lester will pitch against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, and Kyle Hendricks will face the Oakland A’s on Wednesday.